Time-delay plunger for relays



Dec. 28, 1948. P, KEATING ET AL 2,457,681

TIME DELAY ELUNGER FOR RELAYS Filed April 20, 1946 m N T.

yze

Patented Dec. 2:8, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE John P. Keating, Elkhart, and Glen L. Weimer, South Bend, Ind., assignors to Durakool, Inc., I Elkhart, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application April 20, 1946, Serial No. 663,684

(Cl. TIS-372) 4 claims. 1

Our present invention 4relates to an improvement in relays. and more particularly to a relay providing for slow-make and quick-break of a circuit through the relay.

In the embodiment of our invention herein disclosed we have shown and described a normally open type relay comprising a casing or shell which is adapted to serve asv one electrode or terminal for the relay, and in which an electrode means is mounted in insulated relation and servlng as a second electrode for the relay. The casing or shell provides for they support of a main body of mercury and a plunger or displacer `is contained within the casing or shell with the plunger or displacer being adapted to be normally supported in floating relation inthe main body of mercury. The `plunger is ofa construction to provide upon the `energization of the coil of the relay for slow-making of a circuit between the casing and the electrode means and upon deenergization of the coil effects the quick-breaking of a circuit through the relay.

It is an object offour invention to provide a mercury relay comprising a *pairl of electrode meansarranged in insulated-relation with respect to each other with one of the electrode means having contact with a main body of mercury, and plunger or displacer means normally disposed in floatingrelation in the main body of mercury in which position the main body of mercury is out of contact with the other of the electrode means, and which plunger or displacer means is adapted -t`o be immersed 'in the main body of mercury upon energization of the coilv of the relay to displace the main body of mercury and with the plunger 4or displacer means including means for effecting 'a time delay in contacting of the displaced body of mercury with the other of the electrode means in completing a circuit through the relay;

A further object of our invention is to provide a relay as aforesaid in which the timing means for the plunger or displacer means is operable to elect fast breaking of a completed circuit through the relay ,upon de-energization of the coil thereof.V I

A further object of our invention is to provide a novel form of plunger means for effecting slowmake and quick-break of acircuit through a mercury relay of a character adapted to float normally in a main body of mercury for the relay with the circuit through the relay being open in the normal positiony of the plunger means.

Theabove and other objects and advantages of our invention will appear from the'detail description. f

Now in order to acquaint thoseskilled in the art with the manner of constructing and utilizing relays in accordance with our present invention, we shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of our invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detail vertical sectional view through a relay constructed in accordance with the principles of our present invention with the relay being shown in its normal open position; and

Figure 2 is a view of the relay of Figure 1 showing it in its closed position Referring now to the drawing, I have shown a relay 3 comprising a. metal casing or shell 4formed by a cylindrical tube of stainless steel or other suitable metal having a closed lower end wall 5. The casing 4 is commonly referred to in the art as an open envelope type of casing and in the embodiment of our invention herein disclosed serves as one electrode or terminal for the relay. An electrode member 6 serving as a second electrode or terminal for the relay extends inwardly of the open upper end of the casing 4 and is suitably mounted in insulated and preferably gastight relation therein. The electrode 6 may be of any suitable form, and as shown, is imbedded in a glass bead 9 which in turn is carried in and fused to the inner surface of a metal sleeve II. The electrode 6, the glass bead 9, and the sleeve II are rst assembled into a unit before being mounted in the open end of the tube 4. The sleeve II at its lower end is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange I2 which flange is adapted to seat upon an annular steel washer or stop member I3 and which in turn seats upon an annular shoulder I4 preferably formed by the intersection 4of the enlarged counter-bore at the open end of the casing with the smaller normal bore I5 of the tube. In assembling the relay, the steel washer I3, together with the unit formed by the electrode 6, the glass bead 9, and sleeve II are caused to occupy the position shown in Figure 1 after which a annular resilient gasket I6 of rubber or other suitable material is positioned over the sleeve Il and seated upon the flange I2 thereof. The annular gasket I6 has an internal diameter equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the sleeve member II for fitting over the latter. If desired an annular metal plate member or washer I'I may then be positioned over the sleeve Il and seated upon the top of the resilient gasket I6. With the parts in the position described, the open end of the casing 4 is then turned or spun inwardly to secure the annular member l1 in the position shown. This turning in of the open end of the casing serves to compress the annular gasket I6 between the flange I2 of sleeve Il and the annular member*Hitrormafseal authef'adjacentinner cylindrical-surface ofi-the casingfIn thefform of relay herein disclosed this seal is not depended upon to form a gas-tight seal but rather servies principally to prevent mercury ..rom..escaping from internally of the casing.""`HoweVer, if 'desired the annular metal memherlvllxmayfcbeudis- The relay 3 further comprises an energizing coil 25 carried in a suitable supporting bracket 2B for the relay and surrounds the lower end of the tubular assembly comprising the metal cas- 5 ing 4 and enclosing insulating housing 22.

As previously related the casing 4 is preferably of cylindrical shape and of suitable dimensions 7for treceivingrfa tsubstantially;'cylindrical plunger iorldisplacer means 30...?.The `displacer means 30 10 comprises a substantially cylindrical magnetic pensed with in which easeszthemime@tinendrofxqfi :material'zsclrtsasfiof ceramic composition comthe casing could be caused to engagefdire'ctlylthe resilient gasket IE to form both .aflgas-tightfand liquid-tight seal. When the mounting means includes the annular plate member Il asgas---ti'ght seal may be formed between the turned in end .of. thestubathe :metaltring 1H, and .the-.sleeve -l I by an annular ring of solder I8 Which-extends .from the buter;.peripheryoffthecasing or tube t thesleeved I .rt-.fA-leadx, 1.9,.fas'shown, .is adapted to beesecured.-ftotthearelay: YIcasingflby` Ameans .of the f' .ringsot .solderel 8.\.'t, lprovide, oneflead for.the.-re lay. a-fuklso -arsevcond-flead-QU; as shown, is- .secured by soldering to the outer end of the ielectrode 6. The mounting of the electrode-'S'.asf.above@deirscribed,,'.ofgzitselbformsnopfpart of ourrpresent'iin-f Mention andfis Emore-ifully. rdisclosed fand z claimed :.in- .-the.v co-ipendiifig,1 :application ofc-Herbertr E. f Bucklen, 1111,, Serial o, i 647,867-, -siiled y-lebru'ary 15, 1946, now Patent No. 2,450,780, granted.-.0c

. tober 5, .1948,'rto whichcreferencelmay lbe .-had. Iti.

Will be understood thatvgthi-s is-tbut one-.iormof Vnnountingmeans `:suitablen-for.` use ifi- .practicing ff.ourffpr.esent= invention: Iand .that this .mounting -fmeansemaywvary#widely .'-in-Jform. A'llhe electrode zable. -forsuse Withfthe metalrffparts :made-fof .-the aforesaid falloy. f..Also,v-ii"'v desiredfthe electrode 6 .-may be made of'-.m01ybdenum; or `otherfsuitable .arc-resisting metals or alloys;.-as.desired.

The closed end 5-of.casilng 4, as isalso-.known,

isprovidedwith;afsuitable'.tubulation 21 of known forml and serves vlforevacuating the casing tand ..lling.the.sarne=with mercury. I Afterrthefuni-t-has :been assembled,.-as fdescribed, it maybe inserted ine a :cylindrical -shell- -or :enclosing yhousing :22 fformedfof; any-.suitable linsulatingfmaterial. f The .fopen endsofthe ytube1'22 arethenfiill'ed with-suit- ...able plastic -.-sealing l composition 24 to. seal :the meta-lfrelaylcasingin thelhousing 1'22. tIt .willbe :observed that the leads I9 and 20 yare imbedded .infthe plastic .sealing composition-adjacentthe upperffendrof` thefrelayfand thisrsealingfcomposi- 'tionfijstpreferably y'ofa character prowiding a.` iuidtgh-tseall between theesevefralzelements assembled -Within'i-the openfend of-y thea-casing yl and pthefen- .-closinghousingf'22. Thisaarrangement oizaimetal @casing vin a :housing ofafinsulating :material i of'yitself vforms nopartmffour present invention land is ffurther describedwin4 .detail iin --.the above rerferred ftotapplication-:of Herbert :Ev Bucklen',l 'III. 'i

"itm'only-fa'rempluyediin mercury switch and relay ,f.constructionis.contained within the cylindrical sleeve membei-SL The electrode 6 and plunger meanstll are suitably proportioned so that the electrode 6 extends into the bore of the plunger.

Ihemlungerr Afurtlrxer- .comprises a. time -.delay means .35 disposediat themlower` endllof the sleeve .i3 I'.. hetimng, means-.tintthe embodiment-.of

our invention herein showmcomprisesla fpairr'of spacertrings iand 'hbetween .-whichis -secured a .-timing... disc-f.memberf 38 havingfone: or more 1metering-orifices39ltherein,land with an end.re .tainer .platememher1 .4 2.secured-.between the :ring

ofrthelsleeve. .member :311. to securethese V:parts `in v .the positionlshown. {Eheidiscll isprovided with ',..an....upwardlyaextending.\conical.portion 4l and theendnn retainerlplate. 42 .is formed with a :sub- '.stantially: downwardly lextending xconical-portion 13. .with the.. timing. vtd.iscrnember8 and the end .liplateimeinbei'i'u together with-.the spacing therefjoihymeans'of thespacerringilrproviding.ayalve lchamberin ,whichatballyalve 45 =formed of: nonsa() rportionoffthle end .platez-43fistprovided with apluralitydbypassmrices 41.1. Alsosthefltimingldisc member 38 and-.ltherretainerfgplatea42 are` pro- ...videdcentrall-ytthereo-f .with-...circular openings 48 .antilla respeotively,...whichflopenings provider va plate .membersfandsthetpurpose of which wille-be morerlfullyuiescribed.

The above-.describedtassembly .of wthe .time :de-

vlayimeans 'l35...in thewlowern end ofr'the sleeve :3|

-ceramic liner L33 .in..assembled srelations therewith vty engagemenuofithe. rupper edge thereof '.With .theJiei'cele'd. shoulder 0. f ormedt-rbylithe intersecvv.tion ofl'thel-sleeve `3 .with thelreducedfupperr end or.collarlpotionldffthellatter.

"j 'Thefplunger `meansmll.constructed .as aboveedescribed. .hast normalloating :.'relation .infarfmain boiy of.A mercury'` i5 |,.contaned in.. Itl1e.,li:)vver end .portion "of 'thelcasing 4Il.an|:1.`inits,-.nomial floating .60 position asshowni'n Figure 1 "iloatsupon thebody of mercury .5I with themercurybingcut'o con- "tact' with' thdelectrjode member 6.

The plunger'meansis provided with Aafplur'ality "of vsteel \balls52suitbly'spotwelde'about the` out- 7 5 :.guidingf $11.e'f1-movemfcxilst.v ottime plungemmeans 30 in the casing within the scope of our present in- .The operation of the above descri-bed relay is as follows.:

It willifbe observed that in the position of the plunger means 30 as shown in Figure l with the coil means cle-energized that the relay is in normali open position with the electrode E being Figure 2 of the drawings. The valve 45 is seated on the valve seat formed by the central opening 48 in the timing disc 38 so that the displaced mercury passes through the central opening 49 o f the end plate member 42 and the plurality of lbypass oriiices 4'1 thereof, and then through the one or more metering orifices 39 of the timing disc plate 38 whereupon the mercury gradually iills the bore 51 of the ceramic sleeve 33 and after a predetermined time comes into engagement with the electrode E to complete a circuit through the relay. The plunger means 3U is provided with the reduced collar portion 32 to prevent spilling of mercury through the upper open end of the plunger means upon attraction thereof by energization of the coil to avoid short circuiting through the relay and interfering with the operation of the timing means 35.

Now with the relay in its closed position as shown in Figure 2 and upon de-energization of the coil 25 the plunger means 30 will return to its normal iioating position in the body of mercury 5I. However, at the start of the upward movement of plunger means 30 the ball valve 45 will be forced away from the valve seat formed by opening 48 in the disc 38 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 in which it seats upon the valve seat formed by the opening 49 in end plate 42. Thus mercury within the bore 51 will pass through the opening 48 of disc 33 and the metering orifices thereof and through the plurality of by-pass orifices 41 of end plate member 42 to effect rapid return of the mercury to its normal position in the lower end of casing 4. In this manner rapid separation of the displaced mercury with the electrode 6 is effected to provide quick breaking of a circuit through the relay. After the coil of the relay has been de-energized for a limited time the ball valve 45 will again seat on the valve seat formed by opening 48 in disc 38, as shown in full lines in Figure l, so that upon energization of the coil 25 slow making of a circuit through the relay as first above described will be effected.

We have shown and described mercury relays of the metal casing type, but believe that it will be obvious that mercury relays having a casing or shell made of any suitable insulating material and having an electrode member extending there into adapted to have continuous contacting engagement with the main body of mercury in the lower end of the casing may be substituted for the metal casing member 4' of the relay above described. The operation of such a relay would be the same as that of the relay described in that the plunger member would serve to establish a circuit between the electrodes when energized and to break the circuit when de-energized. In other words it will be clear that in lieu of the metal casing serving as an electrode a casing of insulating material provided with a suitable elec- 6 trode having contacting engagement with a body of mercury in the casing may be utilized without departing from our present invention.

While we have shown what we consider to be Athe preferred embodiment of our` invention it will be understood that various modiiications and rearrangements may be made therein without de parting from the spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

l. As an article of manufacture a plunger open at one end and comprising a. substantially hollow cylindrical sleeve member of magnetic metal, a hollow cylindrical liner member of insulating material fitting interiorly of said sleeve member,

timing means closing the other end of said plunger comprising a valve chamber having an upper plate member and a lower plate member, said upper plate member having a conical surface portion with the apex thereof disposed toward the open end of said plunger and said lower plate member having a conical portion with the apex thereof disposed in a direction opposite said upper plate member, said upper plate member having a valve seat substantially centrally thereof and having metering orifice means, said lower plate member having a valve seat substantially centrally thereof and by-pass oriiice means, and a non-magnetic ball valve disposed in said chamber and movable therein for seating engagement with one or the other of the valve seats of said plate members.

2. A plunger for a mercury relay comprising a sleeve member of magnetic metal, a hollow liner of insulating material fitting interiorly of said sleeve member, timing means secured between one end of said liner and the adjacent end of said sleeve member, said timing means extending transversely of said one end of said liner and comprising, a rst disc member having a central conical portion the apex of which extends toward said liner, a second disc member having a central conical portion the apex of which extends away from said liner whereby said disc members form a valve chamber there-between at said one end of said plunger, said disc members having valve seat and orifice means in the conical portions thereof, and a ball valve in said valve chamber movable substantially axially of said plunger for cooperation with said valve seat means.

3. A plunger for a mercury relay comprising a sleeve member of magnetic metal, a hollow liner of insulating material fitting interiorly of said sleeve member, timing means between one end of said liner and the adjacent end of said sleeve member comprising, a pair of superposed disc members extending transversely of said plunger and secured about their peripheries between said one end of said liner and said end of said sleeve member by a radially inwardly extending flange at said end of said sleeve member, said disc members having substantially central conical portions and arranged with the conical portion of said disc member at said one end of said liner extending in a direction toward the latter and with the conical portion of the other of said disc members extending in a direction away from said one end of said liner whereby said disc members form a valve chamber therebetween at one end of said plunger, said disc members having openings centrally of the conical portions thereof forming valve seats, orifice means in said conical portions about said openings in said disc members, and a ball valve of non-magnetic material in said valve .gy "chamba-1::movableubstantadlylraxiallwmfsnsaid plunger :fors,:campare-tinrwxzlzth:v sad :valve sseats.

4. A plungerlforsa memuryaelayzuomprlsmg-n Sleeveimemberfoftmagneti'efmetal hnllowliner lsleevemember; timing ifmeansf-abetweenmne-ren ofisaidrlnenrandfthemdjacentndrofsadeeve ymember? :eommztslnga pair: iut supermsedflsc members extending transversely of said plunger and secured about their periphereslbmeenlnne un saiddinenmhembycsaidzdiscsmembersffonnawwkvemo 3673498 whan-Lbemtltenebebweenfatasaide anemndmo .said

'plungermaid:oneldismmerxberhavingawel substantially centrally of the concalf; th'eneof and :metering f:oricerzmeatnsrasaid disc member having a valve seat subasta 1:cer'ltnzall-y Lof. :the :coni'e all spontiomthereo fau qzsassinrcermeanazand a ball lvralveL-of.l mon rieti'cmtahin said vlaivexnhambemmwzabl :stantillya'axia'lly zofzsaidaplmgei'afonuqnpe f REFERENCES .BREED UNITEDl STATESPATENTS 

